Two Weeks in Italy Itinerary and Travel Guide

If y'all are planning your showtime trip to Italy, this Italy itinerary is a bang-up place to commencement. With 2 weeks in Italy, yous tin can visit the highlights…Rome, Florence, Venice, the Amalfi Declension, Tuscany, and the Cinque Terre. Visit aboriginal historical sites, cruise the canals in Venice, dine on Italian food, go vino tasting in Tuscany, relax on the beach, walk through the heart of Rome, and watch the dusk from the Cinque Terre. It's the trip of a lifetime.

14 days may sound similar a long time, just if you want to come across Italy'south iii large cities (Rome, Florence, and Venice), plus visit both the Amalfi Coast and the Cinque Terre, you volition demand fourteen days to do it.

If y'all have two weeks in Italia, this itinerary is perfect for your kickoff visit.

Ii Weeks in Italia Map

Two Weeks in Italy Itinerary Map

Two weeks in Italy map

Day 1

Get in in Rome

If yous arrive in Rome on a red-eye flight, this showtime twenty-four hour period can be challenging. Get settled into your hotel and exercise your best to adapt to the time change. I do not recommend making big plans today simply considering you may be wearied.

Spend the afternoon walking through the heart of Rome. This brusque, easy walk is a great introduction to Rome. On this walk, encounter some of Rome's nigh famous sites, such as the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon.

Here is a walking map of the route. It's about 2 miles long, starting at the Spanish Steps and ending at Campo de Fiori. With stops along the style, this walk takes nigh two hours.

Start at the Spanish Steps then walk to the Trevi Fountain. This can be a very crowded spot, so be prepared for tour groups and lots of other tourists. Continue on to the Pantheon , a edifice that has been standing in Rome since 120 Advertisement. It'due south free to visit and i of Rome'southward amazing, ancient historical sites. The walk ends at Piazza Navona and Campo de Fiori , two of Rome's famous piazzas.

Tyler and Kara in Rome

Piazza Navona | xiv 24-hour interval Italia Itinerary

Where to Stay in Rome

For hotel recommendations in Rome, take a look at our Rome Hotel Guide. This covers the best hotels and apartments in Rome, organized by location and budget. On this Italia itinerary, you volition stay in Rome for 3 nights.

Solar day ii

The Colosseum and the Borghese

The Colosseum

The Colosseum is one of New 7 Wonders of the World and the largest amphitheater that was ever congenital. Information technology was constructed almost 2000 years ago, completed in 80 AD. In its heyday, betwixt 50,000 and 80,000 spectators would watch gladiator contests, executions, animal hunts, and the reenactments of famous battles.

Inside the Colosseum

The Colosseum | 14 Twenty-four hours Italy Itinerary

This is one of Rome's most popular sites to visit, so expect large crowds and long lines. For the best experience, volume your tickets in advance. I recommend doing this as presently equally you know your travel dates because tickets can sell out.

PRO TRAVEL TIP: To avoid the crowds, plan your visit then y'all enter the Colosseum at opening fourth dimension. Buy your tickets in advance to avoid waiting in the ticket line.

If tickets are sold out for your dates of travel, y'all can purchase a fast-track ticket hither. Or, this very highly rated guided tour includes the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill.

Information technology takes about one hour to tour the Colosseum. To get the most out of your visit, you lot can accept a tour to areas non included on the regular ticket. Visit the Arena, the Undercover (where the animals were kept), and the tertiary tier of the Colosseum. This bout also includes the Roman Forum and Palatine Colina.

Purchase your tickets in advance and learn more about the improver ticket on the official website.

Hours: 8:30 am to vii:xv pm end of March through August 31 with the last entry at half-dozen:15; reduced hours the remainder of the twelvemonth
Cost: €sixteen (+€2 online reservation fee) for the combo-ticket that gets you into the Roman Forum, Palatine Loma, and the Colosseum

The Roman Forum and Palatine Loma

The Roman Forum is the historical middle of Rome. This is ancient Rome, a complex of government buildings, temples, and marketplaces from 2000 years agone.

Roman Forum

Roman Forum | 14 Day Italy Itinerary

You can wander through the Roman Forum on your ain, take an audio guide tour (2 hours, €5), or accept Rick Steves' free audio tour (forty minutes; download it earlier you go).

Dejeuner

Just a brusk walk from the Roman Forum is La Prezzemolina. This highly rated eating place serves Italian street food and pizza at upkeep-friendly prices.

Borghese Fine art Gallery

The Borghese contains one of the all-time collections of art in the world. See works of art past Raphael, Caravaggio, Titian, and Bernini. Fifty-fifty the building is an attraction.

PRO TRAVEL TIP: You tin only visit the Borghese Art Gallery with a reservation. Reservations tin exist made up to three months in advance. Reservations are fabricated for two-60 minutes time slots, starting at nine am, and the last time slot is at 5 pm. If you are unable to buy tickets on the official website, you tin too check GetYourGuide.

Hours: nine am – 7 pm
Closed Mondays
Cost: €13, prices tin increase during special exhibits, +€2 reservation fee
Website: world wide web.galleriaborghese.information technology

After your visit to the Borghese, it's a nice stroll through the gardens that surroundings the art museum.

Crypt of the Capuchin Friars

This is optional merely I am including information technology because it is located inside walking altitude of the Borghese Art Gallery.

In several small-scale chapels underneath the church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappucchini are the skeletal remains of most iv,000 Capuchin friars. The bones are arranged in creative patterns. It'southward morbidly fascinating and definitely an off-the-browbeaten-path location. The Crypt is open up until 7 pm.

Yous can purchase in accelerate via GetYourGuide, which makes it easy to cancel upwards to 24 hours in accelerate and receive a full refund.

Dinner

Finish the day with dinner in the Trastevere neighborhood. We ate at Carlo Menta, which was recommended by our hotel staff.

Solar day 3

Vatican and the Sistine Chapel

State of the vatican city

Vatican City is the smallest country in the world. This is where the Pope calls home. It is also famous amid tourists for its legendary lines to get into the museums and Sistine Chapel. Nosotros are talking upwards to 3-hour waits on the busiest days.

PRO TRAVEL TIP: To avert the crowds, get hither at opening time. Nosotros highly recommend booking your tickets in accelerate, regardless of the time of solar day you plan to visit the Vatican. This bypasses the ticket lines, only yous should still be prepared for large crowds inside the museum and at the Sistine Chapel. There are also numerous Skip-the-Line tours for the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter'southward Basilica.

If you actually want to skip the lines and the crowds, yous can book a bout where yous visit the Vatican before opening hours. Tours start at 7:xxx am and are pricey, but you tour the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter'southward Basilica in a small-scale grouping without the crowds. Learn more here.

Vatican

The Vatican | 14 Twenty-four hour period Italy Itinerary

Best Italy Itinerary with Rome

The View from St. Peter's Basilica | 14 Twenty-four hour period Italy Itinerary

Day iv

Pompeii and Sorrento

Today, you will visit Pompeii while traveling between Rome and Sorrento. This is relatively easy to do.

From Rome, take the railroad train to Naples (70 minutes) and transfer to the Circumvesuviana railroad train. Information technology takes 36 minutes to travel from Naples to Pompeii (go off at the Pompeii Scavi station).

While touring Pompeii, you lot can store your luggage in the luggage storage facility on the lower level of the Pompeii Scavi station. You lot can purchase an entrance ticket and visit Pompeii on your own, or you can visit Pompeii with a guide. When we visited Pompeii, we wandered around on our own, and I regret that now. We would have gotten a lot more than out of our visit if we had hired an experienced guide. On this small grouping tour, yous visit Pompeii with an archaeological guide and go skip-the-line-access.

After touring Pompeii, pick up your baggage and then take the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento. Most likely you volition arrive in the mid to belatedly afternoon. Later checking into your hotel (your abode base for 3 nights), stroll along the marina, take dinner, and attempt the limoncello…it'south succulent!

Sorrento

Sorrento | 14 Day Italy Itinerary

Where to Stay

The best place to stay is Sorrento. This boondocks has many hotels and restaurants to choose from. Plus, it has piece of cake admission to the ferry to Capri, the Circumvesuviana train, and to the buses the travel to the Amalfi Coast. Alternatively, you lot can as well stay in a town similar Positano or Amalfi. These smaller towns are beautiful merely it will be more challenging to get here and conform your day trip to Capri. Yous volition stay in this expanse for iii nights.

24-hour interval 5

Capri

Capri is only 20 minutes away from Sorrento by gunkhole. In one case in Capri, take a boat tour effectually the island, savor the breathtaking view from Mount Solaro, visit the Blue Grotto, and explore the Thou Marina.

Blue Grotto

Blue Grotto | 14 Day Italian republic Itinerary

Solar day 6

Amalfi Coast

From Sorrento, take a day trip to the Amalfi Coast. This is described every bit one of the most scenic drives in the world. Forth the mode, visit the towns of Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello.

Kayaking Amalfi Coast

Kayaking from Positano | Two Weeks in Italia Itinerary

The best mode to get around is past private commuter. Parking tin can be a huge hassle (avoid self-driving the Amalfi Coast during summit season) and using the public bus arrangement tin can be a nightmare (been in that location, done that, and we had a miserable feel). You tin also take this highly-rated group tour from Sorrento. Alternatively, you can besides tour the Amalfi Declension by gunkhole.

Day seven

Florence

This morning, travel from Sorrento to Florence. Y'all can have the Circumvesuviana railroad train (1 hour, cheap) or have a private commuter (i 60 minutes, expensive) to the Naples railroad train station (Napoli Centrale). From Naples it is a 3-hour train ride to Florence. It is a gorgeous journey, peculiarly the final 60 minutes, as y'all travel through Tuscany.

Get settled into your hotel in Florence and then spend the balance of the afternoon exploring the city.

A great thing to do on your start solar day in Florence is to visit the Duomo and climb the 463 steps to the top of the dome for 1 of the all-time views in Florence. This was ane of our favorite experiences in Florence.

View from Duomo

View from the Duomo | Two Weeks in Italia Itinerary

PRO TRAVEL TIP: Reservations are at present mandatory to climb the dome. Without a fourth dimension slot you will be unable to climb the dome. These time slots tend to sell out days in advance. As presently as yous know your dates of travel, I recommend booking your time slot to climb the dome. You tin also purchase a ticket online an advance here.

Spend the rest of the day strolling through Florence.

Make sure you read our commodity 10 Things to do on Your First Visit to Florence. Get recommendations on where to stay, opening hours and prices of attractions, tips on how to avoid the crowds, and whether or not the Firenze Menu is worth it.

Where to Stay

Yous will stay in Florence for 3 nights. Hither are several recommended hotels.

Luxury:Portrait Firenze – Lungarno Collection. Do you want a scenic view of Ponte Vecchio from your hotel room? With spacious rooms and attentive staff, this is ane of the most luxurious places to stay in Florence.

Mid-Range:  B&B La Terazza Sul Duomo. Information technology's hard to crush this location since you can have a view of the Duomo from your room. Rooms are big and comfy and breakfast can be served in your room. As a bonus, you lot get to enjoy views over Florence from the terrace on summit of the hotel. If we visit Florence again, I'd love to stay hither!

Budget:  Hotel Ungherese. Nosotros stayed at this two-star hotel during our visit to Florence. Looking at online photos, it looks as if the rooms take been renovated since our visit. Hotel Ungherese is located one km from the heart of Florence. Information technology's a 25-minute walk or a 10-minute double-decker ride to get to the chief sites. If y'all are looking for a decent hotel at a reasonable price, this is one to bank check out.

Day 8

Florence

Today will be a busy solar day as y'all visit more of Florence's long list of astonishing sites. Art museums, scenic walks, tower climbs and shopping all brand the listing of things to do today. Florence is meaty, so you won't accept to do a lot of walking, only it is amazing how much there is to do hither. Keep yourself fueled with espresso and gelato.

For a total listing of things to exercise in Florence, take a wait at our detailed article about Florence by clicking here. If yous toured the Duomo yesterday, you have just enough time to get to everything else in this article, if you don't mind a busy day. Brand sure you book your tickets to the Uffizi and to Academia in advance so you don't waste precious fourth dimension waiting in line.

Florence

Florence | 14 24-hour interval Italian republic Itinerary

I recommend starting at the Accademia Gallery and so working your way to the Uffizi Gallery , visiting the San Lorenzo Market place, Mercato Centrale, and Palazzo Vecchio on the way. Piazzale Michelangelo (the embrace photo for this article) is the best identify to watch the sunset in Florence and this is not to be missed.

Day 9

Tuscany Twenty-four hours Trip

Today, mean solar day trip into beautiful Tuscany.

Italy Itinerary with Tuscany

Overlooking Tuscany from San Gimignano | 14 Day Italian republic Itinerary

There are several means to do this. You tin book a bout, hire a driver, rent a machine and prepare out on your own, or visit one or 2 towns past bus.

We toured Tuscany by bus and by rental car. The coach was a nightmare, at least when we did information technology in 2014. At several locations, the buses failed to prove up, leaving us (and many other travelers) stranded at the bus stations for hours. Renting a car for the day was more expensive, but we had a lot more than freedom and we could visit towns that buses practise non travel to.

Traveling by a small group tour is a nice way to become. For a little more money, hiring a driver is a groovy way to bout Tuscany.

Day ten

Cinque Terre

In the morning, take the train from Florence to the Cinque Terre. Information technology takes between 1.5 to 3 hours to become to the Cinque Terre. Directly trains accept less time but at that place are many more options that have a transfer in Pisa.

If yous desire to see Pisa, information technology'south piece of cake to add on to today's schedule. Take the train from Florence to Pisa and deposit your baggage in the baggage storage center in the railroad train station. It takes about 2 hours to visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Retrieve your luggage and take a second train to the Cinque Terre.

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Leaning Belfry of Pisa | Two Weeks in Italia Itinerary

When traveling by train from Florence and Pisa to the Cinque Terre, you lot volition commencement get in in La Spezia. From La Spezia, take the local railroad train to one the 5 towns of the Cinque Terre. It takes merely 9 minutes to travel from La Spezia to the first boondocks, Riomaggiore, and trains run very frequently.

End the twenty-four hour period with dinner and dusk views from one of the 5 towns.

Italy Itinerary with Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre | Two Weeks in Italia Itinerary

Where to Stay in the Cinque Terre

Take your option from the five towns of the Cinque Terre. All make great places to stay and since they are all connected by train, it doesn't accept much fourth dimension to travel between them.

If you are traveling on a upkeep, consider staying in La Spezia. Hotels tend to exist much cheaper here. You lot will spend a little more time on the trains but information technology can be worth the money you will save. We stayed in La Spezia and did not think it the extra time on the trains was a big deal.

You lot will stay in the Cinque Terre for 2 nights.

Booking.com


Day 11

Cinque Terre

The Cinque Terre is a UNESCO Earth Heritage Site and 1 of the best places to visit in Italy. Five colorful, gorgeous towns are perched on the dramatic coastline of Italy. Each town offers something a little fleck different than the others, and part of the fun of visiting the Cinque Terre is picking your favorite ane.

14 Days in Italy

Vernazza | Ii Weeks in Italia Itinerary

Yous tin can tour the Cinque Terre past railroad train, jitney, boat, or by human foot. Hiking from town to town is one of the best means to experience the Cinque Terre. Exploring each of the towns is wonderful, simply some of the best views of the Cinque Terre come up from the hiking trails. And since the train also connects all five towns, you don't need to hike the entire altitude.

Day 12

Travel to Venice

There are no direct trains from the Cinque Terre to Venice. You will either transfer trains in Florence or Milan. The quickest journey is 4 hours but information technology tin can take upwards to half-dozen hours to get to Venice.

To maximize your time in Venice, take the earliest train with the shortest travel time.

Even so, if you don't mind giving up some time in Venice, you can visit Milan on a day trip to Venice. We did this and it was a slap-up experience. We took an early on morning train to Milan, spent the mid-part of the twenty-four hours in Milan, and in the afternoon took a second train to Venice.

The 2 master places to visit in Milan are the Duomo and Da Vinci'south Terminal Supper. If y'all have an early train to Milan, visit the Duomo and encounter Da Vinci's Last Supper, you lot can take an afternoon railroad train and get to Venice in time for dinner. If this interests you, read our post How to Day Trip to Milan for the details on how to do this.

Duomo Milan

The Duomo in Milan | xiv Day Italian republic Itinerary

Spend the late afternoon and early evening wandering the streets and canals of Venice.

Where to Stay in Venice

For hotel recommendations in Venice, take a look at our Venice Hotel Guide. This covers the best hotels and apartments in Venice, organized by location and upkeep. On this Italian republic itinerary, you lot will stay in Venice for 2 nights.

Twenty-four hour period 13 & fourteen

Venice

Spend the next two days exploring Venice. Tour the Doges Palace, climb the Campanile, visit St. Mark's Basilica, and cruise the canals. A gondola ride is expensive and touristy, but it'south something we can't resist when we visit Venice. A ride on the Vaporetto, the water taxi, is the all-time cheap style to cruise the Grand Canal in Venice.

Two Weeks in Italy with Venice

Venice | Two Weeks in Italy Itinerary

Best Italy Itinerary with Venice

View from Ponte dell'Accademia | Ii Weeks in Italy Itinerary


How to Modify this Italy Itinerary

Alternative Road

We oftentimes go questions about flying into Naples rather than Rome. We picked Rome as the starting point because it is mostly easier to get flights into Rome rather than Naples. However, if y'all are able to find a flying to Naples, yous tin outset here, rather than starting in Rome. Past starting in Naples, you do save a train ride from Rome to Sorrento, which takes about two to 3 hours.

Hither is a 14-day Italy itinerary that starts in Naples and ends in Venice:

Twenty-four hour period 1: Make it in Naples, travel to Sorrento, explore Sorrento
Day 2: Amalfi Coast
Day three: Capri day trip
Solar day iv: Visit Pompeii on the way to Rome, afternoon in Rome
Day 5: Rome: Colosseum and the Borghese
Day half-dozen: Rome: The Vatican
Solar day vii: Florence
Day 8: Florence
Day ix: Tuscany day trip
24-hour interval x: Railroad train to Cinque Terre, optional visit to Pisa
Solar day 11: Cinque Terre
Day 12: Travel to Venice, optional visit to Milan
Day 13: Venice
Day xiv: Fly abode

With Less Time

If you only have 12 to thirteen days, yous can still practise this Italy itinerary, just of course yous will take to give up some time in 1 or 2 cities. I recommend taking a day from Rome or Florence or completely eliminating the Amalfi Coast.

On this itinerary, you spend 3 days in Sorrento and the Amalfi Declension. Getting hither, and then moving on to Florence, takes some time (roughly 3 to 4 hours each way by high-speed train) and tin can be a minor hassle. Then, information technology's only worth it if you give it at to the lowest degree three total days. I wouldn't recommend trying to shorten it to just two days. Notwithstanding, if you eliminate this part of the trip, this becomes an eleven-day itinerary.

You can as well visit the Amalfi Coast on a mean solar day trip from Rome, which will salve y'all a lot of time (two full days to be verbal). On this Amalfi Day Trip Tour, you volition visit Pompeii, Positano, and Amalfi. What yous volition be missing is Capri and Sorrento, but that might be worth saving those 2 days.

Can you exercise this Italy itinerary in 10 days?

Aye, it'southward possible, just that doesn't mean that it is a good idea. You will get to "see" a lot but you volition feel similar you are in a race and you volition spend almost of your fourth dimension on the train and checking in and out of hotels. It can be done but we don't recommend it.

If you just have 10 days, there are many ways to put together a great Italian republic itinerary. We have a mail service with 3 different x-mean solar day Italian republic itineraries…3 wonderful trips to choose from. This commodity is and then popular, and we get so many questions almost how to visit both the Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Declension in i trip, that we published this 14 solar day Italy itinerary.

We too have a detailed ten day itinerary that includes Rome, Florence, Venice and the Cinque Terre. It is very similar to this xiv day itinerary, with the exception of the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento.

With More than Time

If you lot have more than two weeks in Italy, y'all have two options. You lot tin can either extend your time in i of the cities on this Italy itinerary or add together an additional destination. If yous choose to extend your time, I recommend calculation another 24-hour interval or 2 to Tuscany, the Cinque Terre, or Venice.

If you desire to add another destination to this Italy itinerary, here are our recommendations.

San Marino

San Marino Two Weeks in Italy Itinerary

San Marino | 14 Day Italy Itinerary

San Marino is ane of Europe's virtually underrated destinations. This tiny country is completely surrounded past Italy and to get hither it is a relatively short bulldoze from Tuscany.

Verona

Verona Two Weeks in Italy Itinerary

Verona | 14 Solar day Italy Itinerary

Verona is another underrated destination in Italy. One twenty-four hours and 1 night is all you lot need to experience the best of Verona. Add it before Venice…from the Cinque Terre, take the train to Verona (skipping Milan), spend the rest of the solar day exploring the boondocks, spend the night, and the following forenoon continue to Venice.

Lake Como

Lake Como is a slice of Italian paradise, and for many people, and a visit to Bellagio is the highlight.

Bellagio Two Weeks in Italy Itinerary

Bellagio | xiv Day Italy Itinerary

Lake Como makes a cracking solar day trip destination from Milan. To add Lake Como to this Italy itinerary, you need two extra days. From the Cinque Terre, travel to Milan and spend the afternoon exploring Milan. On 24-hour interval 2, day trip to Lake Como. The following twenty-four hour period, accept the railroad train from Milan to Venice.

Go Hiking in the Dolomites

Dolomites Two Weeks in Italy Itinerary

Dolomites | 14 Day Italy Itinerary

The Dolomites are one of our favorite regions in the world to become hiking. Adding ane day to this Italia itinerary gives you enough time to hike one trail and take a breathtaking car ride through the mountains. If you have ii or three extra days, base yourself in a modest, alpine town, get hiking, and enjoy this beautiful place.

How to Get Around Italian republic

To get from city to city, nosotros recommend taking the train. Trains in Italy are fast, cheap, and very convenient. The train stations are located right in the city centers, so you tin quickly and conveniently travel from city middle to city center. Trains are faster, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly than planes.

To check train schedules and to book your trains online, Italiarail.com is the easiest website to employ. But be aware that they charge a €5 booking fee to utilize their website. You can avoid the €5 fee past using Trenitalia.com, but this website is more hard to use.

In our experience, we take plant information technology to be cheaper to book our tickets individually rather than purchasing a Eurail Pass.

Designing Your Own Italy Itinerary?

This Italy itinerary is a great starting indicate for designing your own custom itinerary. For more than tips and tricks to assist y'all program the perfect trip, consider reading this commodity:

seven Things to Know When Planning Your Beginning Trip to Europe

More Data for Your Trip to Italy

BEST OF Italy: 20 Beautiful Places to Visit Italian republic
ROME ITINERARY: The Best Way to Spend 2 Days in Rome
VIEWS OF FLORENCE: Where to Become the Best Views of Florence
BELLAGIO: viii Amazing Things to Practice in Bellagio
DOLOMITES: Hiking the Tre Cime di Lavaredo Loop
TUSCANY: One Perfect Day in Siena, Italy
TUSCANY: San Gimignano: Best Things to Do and a Bout in Photos
ITALY PHOTOGRAPHY: 10 Gorgeous Views of Italian republic and Where to Photograph Them
10 DAY ITINERARY: 10 Days in Italy: Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre & Venice

If you lot need more data about traveling to Italia, check out our Italy Travel Guide. It has lots of articles and advice to assistance you lot plan the perfect trip.

For more great itineraries in Europe and around the world, check out our Travel Itinerary page.